Project Manager II

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to eliminate the back row in education – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class digital education at scale. As the parent company of edX, the world’s leading online learning platform, 2U powers more than 4,000 online higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporate partners, we are helping to unlock human potential.

What We’re Looking For:

The Project Manager II is responsible for managing and executing strategic projects and programmes of work that underpin and are crucial in achieving the strategic mission and business objectives of 2U. 

They offer strategic guidance to leadership teams on projects or programmes, drive the execution of projects to ensure alignment with global business objectives, and identify critical dependencies across projects.

The Project Manager II will act as the bridge between key business stakeholders and teams delivering the work. They are responsible for managing senior stakeholder expectations, mitigating risks, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and guiding teams in delivering project success for local and international work.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Programme Management (10%)

• Manage a portfolio of projects or programmes of work. 
• Responsible for delivering on both project success and overall programme success.
• Ensuring the link between the projects within an overarching programme of work is managed efficiently and all project inter-dependencies are accounted for. 
• Manage resource planning across projects within a programme of work. 
• Manage the programme risks and ensure the project leads are aware of potential roadblocks and that mitigation / contingency plans are developed and actioned.
• Accountable for consistent programme status updates sent to all project stakeholders on a consistent frequency.
• Determine the project management approach that best suits the programme to ensure efficiency and success of the projects and programme.

Project Management (70%)

• Manage high-risk and business critical projects, dealing with senior leadership team members as the Project Sponsors.
• Manage projects across offices or companies, working with inter-office stakeholders.
• Manage and execute strategic projects, including Inter-office projects, S&T projects, and cross-functional strategic initiatives
• Project Planning:
• Compile and align business on Stakeholder List / RACI to define project team roles and responsibilities.
• Create and accurately maintain project plans, indicating accurate tasks, milestones, timings, assignees, and task dependencies.
• Ensure that the project sponsor / product owner has supplied and thought about project success criteria ahead of project kick-off and provide guidance and support to help define and align on the criteria where required.
• Schedules and facilitates project kick-off meetings, to review project timings, agree to roles, and align the team on scope and project overview.
• Project Execution:
• Governance of project documentation in a structured manner on a Team Drive / Google Sheet.
• Compile project Risk Registers and escalate risks / issues where necessary by representing these on the Programme Management Risk Register.
• Escalate project risks and issues to project sponsors to ensure project success.
• Lead project meetings and distribute meeting outcomes to ensure that next steps are planned for and expectations are managed at all times. 
• Clearly communicate project expectations, risks, project progress and updates to internal and external project stakeholders on projects.
• Manage project team task execution to ensure successful project delivery. 
• Deliver weekly project update emails to the project team.
• Technical project management:
• Scope management and change request processes.
• Monitors the project variables (effort, scope etc.) against the plan and the project performance baseline.
• Coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT), setting up kick-off sessions, ensures relevant test cases are prepped and track progress and feedback reviews. 
• Ensure business sign-off on UAT and Production deployment.
• Determine the project management approach to follow for the specific projects, within the constraints of 2Us PM framework (Agile and Waterfall).
• Finalise all activities to formally close the project, including closing off project codes, running project retrospectives and sending out the project closure survey. 

Strategic Support (10%)

• Partners and guides the project sponsor / product owner in supporting the project vision. 
• Is a sounding board to the project sponsor / product owner, offering project advice and suggestions on the best way forward. 
• Has adequate business knowledge to guide on the next steps and ability to identify affected department and project interdependencies. 
• Works closely with senior leadership to provide structure and implement processes to support the delivery of projects. 

PMO Support (10%)

• Proactively seeking out ways to improve the PMO function and ensure the framework remains relative.
• Help to improve processes within the PMO to enable the team to be more efficient.
• Role model for the team culture.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• 6+ years experience as a project manager for systems and development or strategic projects
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a technology-related field or relevant ICT work experience as a Project Manager
• Excellent knowledge and handling of project and program management methodology and techniques; e.g. PMBOK(R)
• Self-motivated and able to find opportunities for improvement
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Comfortable working in a constantly changing atmosphere and prioritizing work appropriately
• Proactive attitude
• Organized and methodical work process
• Strong attention to detail
• Team player who does not need extensive supervision

Benefits & Culture

Our global employee base is a diverse collection of innovators, dreamers, and doers working together to transform lives through higher education. We believe that every employee can advance our shared purpose, and that life at 2U should be fun and meaningful. If you’re excited by the opportunity to provide over 40 million learners and counting with access to world-class online higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference. #NoBackRow

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance.
Full-time, ZA benefits include: 

• 2 complimentary Getsmarter short courses per year
• Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme
• 4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave and a company-wide festive season break

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture of belonging, respect, and inclusion. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to bring together an employee base that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by what makes us different, as well as by how we are alike. 

2U is committed to providing reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodations, please reach out to us at: recruitingaccommodations@2u.com. 

About 2U Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU)

For more than a decade, 2U, Inc. has been the digital transformation partner of choice to great non-profit colleges and universities delivering high-quality online education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading global online learning platform, 2U provides over 45 million learners with access to world-class education in partnership with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporations. Our people and technology are powering more than 4,000 digital education offerings — from free courses to full degrees — and helping unlock human potential. To learn more: visit 2U.com.

About edX

edX is the education movement for restless learners and a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU). Together with the majority of the world’s top-ranked universities and industry-leading companies, we bring our community of over 45 million learners world-class education to support them at every stage of their lives and careers, from free courses to full degrees. And we're not stopping there — we're relentlessly pursuing our vision of a world where every learner can access education to unlock their potential, without the barriers of cost or location. Learn more at edX.org.

Learn more at https://2u.com/careers/
#NoBackRow

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

2U is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. 2U’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits and pay.